Worlds: Hosp will defend GS title despite injury

The women’s giant slalom at the World Ski Championships at Val d’Isere, France will feature the defending champion after all. Nicole Hosp arrived Tuesday night and will compete in the race Thursday.The women’s giant slalom at the World Ski Championships at Val d’Isere, France will feature the defending champion after all. Nicole Hosp arrived Tuesday night and will compete in the race Thursday.

Hosp, also the silver medallist in slalom at the 2006 Olympics and the World Cup overall and GS champion in 2007 tore ligaments in her left knee while warming up prior to the Zagreb slalom Jan. 4.

As the defending champion Hosp gets her own start position and will not be counted against the Austria quota of four. Kathrin Zettel, (with a gold medal from combined), Michaela Kirchgasser, Elisabeth Goergl (with a bronze medal from combined) and Andrea Fischbacher (bronze medal from super G), plus Hosp, will provide a star-studded line-up for the team in the GS.